BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
World AIDS Day - Prevention Through Knowledge
December 1st, 2008
December 1 is World AIDS Day, and I’m administrating the Week of Blogging To End AIDS. If you’re a blogger and you want to join the effort, comment to let me know so that you can be added to the list; and post anytime over the next seven days.
Avert.org states the following about the current state of AIDS in America:
Since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic more than half a million people have died of AIDS in America1 – the equivalent of the entire population of Las Vegas. There are currently more than one million people living with HIV and AIDS in America and around a fifth of these are unaware of their infection,2 posing a high risk of onward transmission.
America’s response to the AIDS epidemic has produced mixed results. HIV prevention efforts have not always been successful and every year approximately 56,000 Americans are infected with HIV.3 Stigma and discrimination towards HIV positive people still persist and thousands of uninsured Americans struggle to access good HIV care and antiretroviral therapy. The world’s biggest donor of AIDS-related funding is itself facing a major, ongoing AIDS epidemic, which shows little sign of abating.
Avert gives this chart on who’s infected:
Race: % of AIDS diagnoses in 20064 | % of population in 20065
White, non-Hispanic: 30% | - - - 66%
African American: 49% | - - - 12%
Hispanic: - - - - 19% | - - - 15%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1% | - - - 4%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0% | - - - 1%
Knowledge is the key
If you know how to prevent yourself from catching HIV, and you exercise that knowledge, their are only minimal possibilities that you would ever contract it; one being through birth, but even in that instance their are prevention treatments that can prevent mother to unborn child transmission that we need to make more greatly available globally.
Therefore, it is important to understand how AIDS is transmitted.
TheSite.org says the following about contracting HIV/AIDS, with my comments in bracketss [].
How do you get HIV?
The HIV virus is found in infected blood, semen or vaginal fluid. In general, infection can occur in four different ways:
1. By having unprotected sex with someone who already has the HIV virus when the penis enters the vagina or anus without a condom [It’s possible to get AIDS during condom use if the condoms is defect of not used properly. Proper condom use of a latex condom makes the possibilities minuscule.]. The risk of contracting Aids through unprotected oral sex is thought to be much lower - but transmission is possible if semen, vaginal fluid or menstrual blood comes in contact with bleeding gums or mouth infections. You can protect yourself from HIV infection by using condoms;
2. Using or sharing a hypodermic syringe which has already been used by someone infected by HIV, can lead to the exchange of a small amount of infected blood;
3. A mother who has HIV can pass it on to her baby whilst she is pregnant;
4. People have contracted the HIV virus from receiving contaminated blood in a blood transfusion. However, nowadays this is incredibly rare because most industrialised countries test blood for HIV prior to any transfusions.There are many myths about how HIV is spread. For the record, the virus is unable to survive outside of the body. It means you CANNOT catch HIV from kissing, snogging, toilet seats, sharing towels or giving blood.
I cannot encourage people enough to watch the Frontline/PBS documentary the Age of AIDS - free online. (right beneath the picture of President Bush adn Bono at the top, click where it says “watch full program online”)
Here is a trailer:
Popularity: 22% [?]
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7 Responses to “World AIDS Day - Prevention Through Knowledge”
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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Great post, Yobachi. Very informative.
Count me in on World AIDS Day blogging.
www.vanessabyers.net/2008/12/world-aids-day-2008-we-can-stop-hiv-aids.html
thejosevilson.com/blog/2008/12/01/the-world-is-not-enough-world-aids-day-2008/
Ybachi - you’re right on target with this post. AIDS is literally destroying our community. One aspect that is particularly troubling is that of the “Down Low Brother.” These men, who are having sexual contact with other men, and not telling their partners are doing great harm within our community–especially to women. I cover this aspect of the issue on my blog, and feel that these men must be honest: with themselves, society, and their partners–especially our black women.
Vanessa and Jose, I wil be doint one or two round up post throught the week; and will include you all. Thanks for dropping your links by, and for participating.
Robert, sure nough; if guys are going to be gay they should just be that. But the greater issue is men and women, whether for homosexual or heterosexual sex, stepping out on their partners; having the nerve to do so without protection; and then with disregard bringing disease back to their partner.
The entire indiscriminate sex without out any protection or testing is issue that underlines in other particular social manifestation.
Yocachi,
Thank you for the post and for organizing bloggers. As an African American women it is vital that HIV/AIDS information is shared to our community. Everyone needs to do his/her part in the fight, especially African American women. It has to start with us.
I will be posting more information on AIDS throughout the week and the coming year. World AIDS Day needs to be a year long event.
I posted today and linked to your site.